Thankful for outpouring of help

Doris Fairell's broken-down home in West Augustine will likely get the repairs it needs -- welcome news for the 75-year-old this Thanksgiving.

She doesn't have running water, but that should be fixed soon. Her home is targeted to for a new roof, new plumbing and new wiring, said Bill Lazar from the St. Johns Housing Partnership, an organization that repairs homes.

After her story ran in The St. Augustine Record Nov. 17, residents came together to fix Fairell's home at 809 West 3rd St. Thousands of dollars have been pledged from local organizations to help her overcome her impoverished condition.

Fairell's demeanor has changed in the last month. She's more upbeat now with the news that help is on the way, and she smiles more.

Phone calls from people wanting to help came pouring in and visitors stopped by her house. They've given her food, clothing and a heater.

"It's been quite a few people that stopped in to see how I was doing," Fairell said.

She was visited by Audrey Reardon Wednesday. Reardon is a local resident who learned of her condition and was reminded of her late grandmother. She and her daughters delivered canned food, pots and pans.

It took several trips from Reardon's car to carry all of the goods. Reardon and her daughters gave Fairell a warm hug before leaving. They had never met before.

The housing partnership received up to $4,000 from people in the community to help her, Lazar said. And although the local Home Depot manager said he couldn't comment, Lazar said employees of the company pledged to donate time, skills and supplies for Fairell's cause.

Also, she should be eligible for $15,000 from the State Housing Partnership Initiatives Program, he said.

"It really should let us do about everything that house needs to have done to it," Lazar said. "She's going to be very comfortable in a nice house."

The Habitat for Humanity St. Augustine/St. Johns County received a $20,000 donation from someone who wants to remain anonymous, executive director Diane Quick said. That money was going to help Habitat tear Fairell's house down and build a new one.

But it could also be spent tearing down a dilapidated home next door to Fairell that would be used to house an elderly person in Fairell's condition, Quick said.

Fairell said she would enjoy the company.

Officials say Fairell's home is structurally sound and doesn't need to come down. It just needs extensive repairs.

The anonymous donor wants to help Fairell in some way, Quick said.

Also, Fairell's unpaid property taxes have been taken care of, said Tammy Conkey, manager of delinquent taxes for the St. Johns County Tax Collector. She owed about $1,400. Someone paid the bill the day after The Record's story ran, Conkey said.

Fairell owed the taxes because she lost her homestead exemption when she moved to Miami a few years ago. She's met with officials to have it reinstated.

Her home has been assessed at $23,000, and the $25,000 homestead exemption would have prevented her from running up a high debt.

The money coming in from the community can also be used on others that need help, Lazar said. Enough goodwill has been generated by Fairell's situation to help Fairell and more, he said.

"I wouldn't want to miss out on an opportunity to help two people," Lazar said.

Fairell lives in one of up to 3,700 substandard homes in St. Johns County, according to a recent study commissioned by the county. And she's one of 30 million people in the nation living in substandard conditions, according to Habitat for Humanity International.

The problem is immense. But help for Fairell, in some shape or form, is on the way. She is overwhelmed and thankful for the people who stepped forward in her time of need.